Method and device for supplying a lubricant

Abstract

A device and method feeding turbomachines with lubricant, the turbomachine including a first set of bearings and a second set of bearings. Both the first and the second sets of bearings are fed with lubricant, and the second set of bearings operate at a temperature higher than the first set. The second set of bearings is fed with lubricant at a temperature higher than the first set.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A lubricant feed method for feeding a turbomachine with lubricant, the turbomachine including at least a first set of bearings and a second set of bearings, both the first and the second set being fed with lubricant, and the second set of bearings operating at a temperature higher than the first set, the method comprising:
 feeding the second set of bearings with lubricant at a temperature that is higher than the first set.   
     
     
         12 . A lubricant feed method according to  claim 11 , wherein a flow of lubricant is cooled in a heat exchanger upstream from the first set of bearings. 
     
     
         13 . A lubricant feed method according to  claim 11 , wherein a lubricant flow is heated upstream from the second set of bearings, the heating including exchanging heat with a flow of lubricant returning from the second set of bearings. 
     
     
         14 . A lubricant feed method according to  claim 11 , wherein the first set of bearings is fed with lubricant by a first circuit, and the second set of bearings is fed with lubricant by a second circuit branching from the first circuit. 
     
     
         15 . A device for feeding a turbomachine with lubricant,
 the turbomachine including a first set of bearings and a second set of bearings, and the second set of bearings configured to operate at a temperature higher than the first set,   wherein the device is configured to feed the second set with lubricant at a temperature that is higher than the first set.   
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 15 , including a first circuit for feeding lubricant to the first set of bearings, and a second circuit for feeding lubricant to the second set of bearings, the first circuit having a branch point leading to the second circuit. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the first circuit includes a heat exchanger between the branch point and the first set of bearings to cool a flow of lubricant for the first set of bearings. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the second circuit includes a heat exchanger for transmitting heat from at least a flow of lubricant returning from the second set of bearings to a flow of lubricant for feeding the second set of bearings. 
     
     
         19 . A turbomachine comprising:
 a first set of bearings;   a second set of bearings configured to operate at a temperature higher than the first set; and   a lubricant feed device configured to feed the second set with lubricant at a temperature that is higher than the first set.   
     
     
         20 . A turbomachine according to  claim 19 , wherein the lubricant feed device includes a first circuit for feeding lubricant to the first set of bearings, and a second circuit for feeding lubricant to the second set of bearings, the first circuit having a branch point leading to the second circuit. 
     
     
         21 . A turbomachine according to  claim 20 , wherein the first circuit includes a heat exchanger between the branch point and the first set of bearings to cool a flow of lubricant for the first set of bearings. 
     
     
         22 . A turbomachine according to claim  29 , wherein the second circuit includes a heat exchanger for transmitting heat from at least a flow of lubricant returning from the second set of bearings to a flow of lubricant for feeding the second set of bearings. 
     
     
         23 . A turbine engine assembly, or a turbine engine assembly for aviation purposes, comprising:
 a turbomachine including a first set of bearings, a second set of bearings configured to operate at a temperature higher than the first set, and a lubricant feed device configured to feed the second set with lubricant at a temperature that is higher than the first set.   
     
     
         24 . A turbine engine assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the lubricant feed device includes a first circuit for feeding lubricant to the first set of bearings, and a second circuit for feeding lubricant to the second set of bearings, the first circuit having a branch point leading to the second circuit. 
     
     
         25 . A turbomachine according to  claim 24 , wherein the first circuit includes a heat exchanger between the branch point and the first set of bearings to cool a flow of lubricant for the first set of bearings. 
     
     
         26 . A turbomachine according to  claim 24 , wherein the second circuit includes a heat exchanger for transmitting heat from at least a flow of lubricant returning from the second set of bearings to a flow of lubricant for feeding the second set of bearings.